I have been cruising the internets for movie trailers. Its something I like to do, I happen to like movie trailers. Besides if I waited for Murdoch or Fairfax to decide when I should see something...
Actually it's more of an excuse to mind Ladybird while her mother gets some sleep. She is a week old today. In the week just gone I've seen more rain that I've seen in years. Personally I see that as a good luck sign for the arrival of my daughter who is currently fast asleep and farting.
Next Monday I'm back in the office with a lot of work to do, so I should just enjoy this rain (now the sun is shinning) and Ladybirds company :)
To Know Me Is To Love Me...
- BubbaJay
- Suave raconteur and dinner party favourite. Once held the Olympic torch, has delivered newspapers to prime ministers, shaken hands with Prince Charles, wrecked Jason Donovan's skateboard, climbed 300 metre granite cliff faces, surfed with dolphins, appears on community radio and is in demand for these and the accounts of other thrilling exploits!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Fun Movie
It's called 'The Goods', I don't know much about the plot or reason for it - except that it is about selling. And its by the same guys who did Talledega Nights and my current favourite Step Brothers.
It just looks funny, in a 'someone will get hurt' kind of a way. Which, I have to tell you, is OK with me.
It just looks funny, in a 'someone will get hurt' kind of a way. Which, I have to tell you, is OK with me.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Safe and Sound
Ladybird has arrived at long last on Wednesday night.
I am a father to beautiful baby girl. She has a little scrunched up face that looks like each of her three cousins up in Sydney at the same age.
So I will be forming a consortium of Right Thinking Fathers with Daughters. Current membership includes chapters in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. The purpose is to use our collective buying power to purchase barbed wire, shotguns, wild dogs and rocking chairs. There will speech therapy classes to perfect phrases such as "Ain't nuthin here for you boy" and "You make my little girl cry, you gonna die" and "Get off my lawn douchebag" with suitable menace.
Planned activities will include Daddys Little Angel Appreciation Class, How to spot a Deadbeat and what I hope will be a perennial favourite Sound Financial Management and Business Development Class. Fathers Day will be replaced with the more practical Why Daddy is Right Week.
Contenders for our anthem include a reworking of the Cramps classic, "All Men are Bad (except for Dad)" and the Brandenburg Concertos.
Our founding philosophy is something along the lines of, 'While it may be a mans world, very few of them are good enough for my little angel' (Some of them can obviously be trained to pay for dinner and buy my little angel shoes, houses etc) (Mental note explore option of expanding into credit reference checks for potential suitors).
We will also be conducting Douchebag identificaiton training for future Dads. Examples of Douchebag tells include, Wearing sunglasses on their head on a cloudy day while inside, wearing of the collars upturned. Not liking Magnum PI or not knowning who he is. Fondness for comercial radio, fondness for the AFL, being short. Borrowing money, concerning levels of familiarity with Creed, Jonas Brothers or Bette Midler (that last one will require an intevention and a shifting of candidate from the Douchebag list of suitors to the Douchebag list of 'will not give her mother grandchildren').
Suitable male role models include; Dad, Mr T, Barrack Obama, Bob the Builder and Elvis (the Vegas years)
Unsuitable male role models include; Elvis (the early years), Prince, People who are Not Dad and Helen Clarke.
There is much work to be done and the final draft of our founding charter to complete. However our core message is resonating well with Right Thinking Fathers with Daughter everywhere and we will consider expanding into new territories soon.
I am a father to beautiful baby girl. She has a little scrunched up face that looks like each of her three cousins up in Sydney at the same age.
So I will be forming a consortium of Right Thinking Fathers with Daughters. Current membership includes chapters in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney. The purpose is to use our collective buying power to purchase barbed wire, shotguns, wild dogs and rocking chairs. There will speech therapy classes to perfect phrases such as "Ain't nuthin here for you boy" and "You make my little girl cry, you gonna die" and "Get off my lawn douchebag" with suitable menace.
Planned activities will include Daddys Little Angel Appreciation Class, How to spot a Deadbeat and what I hope will be a perennial favourite Sound Financial Management and Business Development Class. Fathers Day will be replaced with the more practical Why Daddy is Right Week.
Contenders for our anthem include a reworking of the Cramps classic, "All Men are Bad (except for Dad)" and the Brandenburg Concertos.
Our founding philosophy is something along the lines of, 'While it may be a mans world, very few of them are good enough for my little angel' (Some of them can obviously be trained to pay for dinner and buy my little angel shoes, houses etc) (Mental note explore option of expanding into credit reference checks for potential suitors).
We will also be conducting Douchebag identificaiton training for future Dads. Examples of Douchebag tells include, Wearing sunglasses on their head on a cloudy day while inside, wearing of the collars upturned. Not liking Magnum PI or not knowning who he is. Fondness for comercial radio, fondness for the AFL, being short. Borrowing money, concerning levels of familiarity with Creed, Jonas Brothers or Bette Midler (that last one will require an intevention and a shifting of candidate from the Douchebag list of suitors to the Douchebag list of 'will not give her mother grandchildren').
Suitable male role models include; Dad, Mr T, Barrack Obama, Bob the Builder and Elvis (the Vegas years)
Unsuitable male role models include; Elvis (the early years), Prince, People who are Not Dad and Helen Clarke.
There is much work to be done and the final draft of our founding charter to complete. However our core message is resonating well with Right Thinking Fathers with Daughter everywhere and we will consider expanding into new territories soon.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Bank error in your favour, collect $10 Mil
The report of a couple from NZ whose bank accidentally credited $10 million into their account has got me thinking. Firstly, that banks are bastards (but that can honestly go without saying). Secondly, how would I handle that temptation?
Perhaps one could use the money to secure another loan of an even greater value (I understand that's how the current mess got started in the states). Or I could take the money and run (but you can hide forever). Or I could alert the bank and give the money back.
In my opinion its a case of giving the money back. But the bank is doing nothing in my opinion by sounding tough and warning of penalties and trouble. Like some ineffectual school prefect that no one respects. Banks have jerked me around often enough and I have rarely had an apology from them.
Perhaps this is an opportunity not only for people to understand that bank errors are rarely in their favour, but also for the banks to show some charm in dealing with this kind of thing...
Perhaps one could use the money to secure another loan of an even greater value (I understand that's how the current mess got started in the states). Or I could take the money and run (but you can hide forever). Or I could alert the bank and give the money back.
In my opinion its a case of giving the money back. But the bank is doing nothing in my opinion by sounding tough and warning of penalties and trouble. Like some ineffectual school prefect that no one respects. Banks have jerked me around often enough and I have rarely had an apology from them.
Perhaps this is an opportunity not only for people to understand that bank errors are rarely in their favour, but also for the banks to show some charm in dealing with this kind of thing...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Still waiting
Bub has not arrived. In fact they show no signs of arriving. The value of their arriving status is nil.
The due date was yesterday.
It is interesting to me because in the near if not immediate future (just checked my phone, no missed calls) bub will arrive and from that point on they will have always been here. Their life begins. Trying to imagine what their parents were like before they were born will be difficult.
And yet... Still waiting. Have run out of nervous energy and so has Evie. Just waiting and carrying on as usual.
The due date was yesterday.
It is interesting to me because in the near if not immediate future (just checked my phone, no missed calls) bub will arrive and from that point on they will have always been here. Their life begins. Trying to imagine what their parents were like before they were born will be difficult.
And yet... Still waiting. Have run out of nervous energy and so has Evie. Just waiting and carrying on as usual.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Why weird is good
Last year I heard a talk by a former marketing manager of Toyota cars (Australia). He was a really interesting guy. His talk was an interesting take on standing out in a me-too market. His advice was to be weird. Don't be normal.
No problem for me.
But his advice went to the core of adaptability in a changing market. It also captures the idea of passion for what you do, that perhaps not everyone gets it but sometimes that's okay.
This week is the PBS Radiothon (last week was the 3MBS one) and I will be pledging my support as I did last year. I regularly write about the appalling state of mainstream media in this country, so where does one turn to to hear good music? Why to community radio my friend. And I should say that there are grades of quality in Community Radio. PBS is one of best ones in the country (with a current fetish for funk and soul in all its varieties).
So last night I was driving home and I caught the tail end of the country and western show. I'll be honest country and western for me is more miss than hit, but I will listen to it because every now and again you find a jewel Well in this case an Eilen Jewel [MySpace page HERE] the DJ played a couple of fantastic moody country tracks and finished with 'Rain Roll In'. Thankfully I had a pen in the car and wrote it down.
I consider myself to have a good ear for music and Eilen Jewel is good music. I invite you to check out her songs on MySpace, I'll be buying the album this weekend (I have no respect for people who do steal music) and I recommend you do the same.
Going back to my earlier point, without PBS I would never have heard Eilen Jewel, I would never have been exposed to some music I like. This service, this revelation of grooves was given to me by someone who gets on the radio because they love their music. Because they are passionate about their music. Probably because they are weird.
I also encourage you to support your local community radio station. Link to the PBS Radiothon [Here].
No problem for me.
But his advice went to the core of adaptability in a changing market. It also captures the idea of passion for what you do, that perhaps not everyone gets it but sometimes that's okay.
This week is the PBS Radiothon (last week was the 3MBS one) and I will be pledging my support as I did last year. I regularly write about the appalling state of mainstream media in this country, so where does one turn to to hear good music? Why to community radio my friend. And I should say that there are grades of quality in Community Radio. PBS is one of best ones in the country (with a current fetish for funk and soul in all its varieties).
So last night I was driving home and I caught the tail end of the country and western show. I'll be honest country and western for me is more miss than hit, but I will listen to it because every now and again you find a jewel Well in this case an Eilen Jewel [MySpace page HERE] the DJ played a couple of fantastic moody country tracks and finished with 'Rain Roll In'. Thankfully I had a pen in the car and wrote it down.
I consider myself to have a good ear for music and Eilen Jewel is good music. I invite you to check out her songs on MySpace, I'll be buying the album this weekend (I have no respect for people who do steal music) and I recommend you do the same.
Going back to my earlier point, without PBS I would never have heard Eilen Jewel, I would never have been exposed to some music I like. This service, this revelation of grooves was given to me by someone who gets on the radio because they love their music. Because they are passionate about their music. Probably because they are weird.
I also encourage you to support your local community radio station. Link to the PBS Radiothon [Here].
Monday, May 18, 2009
Snow Cat
Went to the Zoo on the weekend and had a great time. Will definitely be taking Ladybird there when they are older (and actually here). We saw Lions, tigers, monkeys, giraffes, bogans and bears. In fact it was quite the cross section of mammals. Notably absent where any reptiles or such like. Well it is almost winter...
Evie announced yesterday that she is officially ready to give birth. Ladybird has not yet made any indication of arriving, they are due on the 26th though, so they are not late (per se). Myself I'm holding out for a post 20th date, but only for the silliest of possible reasons. After the 20th will make them a Gemini, born in the year of the Ox (like me!)
So we continue with the waiting game...
Last night we had the great pleasure of watching a performance of the Nefes Ensemble at the Abbotsford convent. I cannot in any measure do justice to the beauty of the music I heard. At best I can tell you it was music from the Ottoman Empire. Parts were improvisation (just love the sound of the Ney), parts were Sufi calls and one peice was compossed by a Sultan. Every note was haunting and beautiful. It transported us all to an amazing place. My only regret was the short length of the concert. I could have listened to them for hours. Myspace page HERE...
Evie announced yesterday that she is officially ready to give birth. Ladybird has not yet made any indication of arriving, they are due on the 26th though, so they are not late (per se). Myself I'm holding out for a post 20th date, but only for the silliest of possible reasons. After the 20th will make them a Gemini, born in the year of the Ox (like me!)
So we continue with the waiting game...
Last night we had the great pleasure of watching a performance of the Nefes Ensemble at the Abbotsford convent. I cannot in any measure do justice to the beauty of the music I heard. At best I can tell you it was music from the Ottoman Empire. Parts were improvisation (just love the sound of the Ney), parts were Sufi calls and one peice was compossed by a Sultan. Every note was haunting and beautiful. It transported us all to an amazing place. My only regret was the short length of the concert. I could have listened to them for hours. Myspace page HERE...
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Machine Mundi
Last night was the budget address, same sh*t different a$%hole.
Today Evie and I had breakfast at the wonderful Lentil as Anything restaurant here at the Abbotsford convent. We are taking advantage of moments like this while we can. Our beautiful child will be here any day now, so getting about while we can is important.
Also as important is me doing some Dad-to-be-research. The other night on the telly (Daddy, what does hypocrite mean...) we watched a documentary on the Snow Leopard. My goodness, set cute meter to max!! AND I turns out that Melbourne Zoo has a some baby Snow Leopards OMG!!
So this weekend we are off to the Zoo. Gonna check it out for Ladybird and make sure we know the lay of the land and check out those little cutey pie furry killing machines!!
Today Evie and I had breakfast at the wonderful Lentil as Anything restaurant here at the Abbotsford convent. We are taking advantage of moments like this while we can. Our beautiful child will be here any day now, so getting about while we can is important.
Also as important is me doing some Dad-to-be-research. The other night on the telly (Daddy, what does hypocrite mean...) we watched a documentary on the Snow Leopard. My goodness, set cute meter to max!! AND I turns out that Melbourne Zoo has a some baby Snow Leopards OMG!!
So this weekend we are off to the Zoo. Gonna check it out for Ladybird and make sure we know the lay of the land and check out those little cutey pie furry killing machines!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Going Bodly (motion away)
The New Yorker has a review of the latest Star Trek movie HERE.
I'm all for Star Trek movies, Wrath of Khan is still an all time favourite, but I have not enjoyed any of the incumbent directors previous efforts.
I hold no high hopes for this movie.
I'm all for Star Trek movies, Wrath of Khan is still an all time favourite, but I have not enjoyed any of the incumbent directors previous efforts.
I hold no high hopes for this movie.
Film versus TV
The media in Australia is appallingly bad. Its bar is set so low Australian media is routinely banned from limbo competitions around the world. I did hear an interesting rumour that the reason the print and TV quality is so bad is because advertising revenue is down significantly. Which means less revenue to spend on talent, which means having even less talent on hand to improve the output. One figure mentioned to me for a metropolitan broadsheet advertising was $4 mil per week to $1 mil.
Would that not encourage a lifting of standards? You would think so, but alas it is not to be. The three major TV networks are similarly running on the smell of an oily rag. Which is demonstrated by the abundance of cheap 'reality' shows (backyard makeover talent cooking expose) and the lack of programs. One channel is actually re-running the previous nights entertainment the next day at lunch time then again on Friday evenings. Probably having spent every last sent on the brutally flogged horses corpse that is The Simpsons most recent series...
How will our media masters meet the challenge of delivering the audience up to advertisers?
The Onion has a vision for us all to fear [LINK]
Would that not encourage a lifting of standards? You would think so, but alas it is not to be. The three major TV networks are similarly running on the smell of an oily rag. Which is demonstrated by the abundance of cheap 'reality' shows (backyard makeover talent cooking expose) and the lack of programs. One channel is actually re-running the previous nights entertainment the next day at lunch time then again on Friday evenings. Probably having spent every last sent on the brutally flogged horses corpse that is The Simpsons most recent series...
How will our media masters meet the challenge of delivering the audience up to advertisers?
The Onion has a vision for us all to fear [LINK]
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Fate
Its been a busy past few weeks Bubbas.
Highlights include;
Ma came down last week. What I noticed the most about this visit was how much I missed her when I put her on the plane. My beloved is due any day now, so Ma wanted to come down before the bub is due. To have her here in her role as a Mum and a Grandmother was special. In my mind I felt we were under assessment (in a good way) by Ma to make sure our house, our community and family in Melbourne were ready for Ladybird. I am a very independent minded person and yet I wanted Mum to stay like I never needed her before. It was a very special weekend.
ELVIS!! Among the many things I love the story of Elvis is very prominent. So the framed poster is of a very young Elvis, performing just after Sun Records sold his contract to RCA. Elvis has been recording and performing for about 18 months, he has not yet met Tom Parker and his truck drivers license is still current in case this all goes wrong... A magic moment in the story of music in the 20th century.
So its been a pretty jam packed couple of weeks. Not sure if I have successfully relayed the scope and magnitude of it all...
Highlights include;
- Getting an awesome new job
- Having my Ma down from Sydney for a couple of days
- Getting a framed Elvis poster
Ma came down last week. What I noticed the most about this visit was how much I missed her when I put her on the plane. My beloved is due any day now, so Ma wanted to come down before the bub is due. To have her here in her role as a Mum and a Grandmother was special. In my mind I felt we were under assessment (in a good way) by Ma to make sure our house, our community and family in Melbourne were ready for Ladybird. I am a very independent minded person and yet I wanted Mum to stay like I never needed her before. It was a very special weekend.
ELVIS!! Among the many things I love the story of Elvis is very prominent. So the framed poster is of a very young Elvis, performing just after Sun Records sold his contract to RCA. Elvis has been recording and performing for about 18 months, he has not yet met Tom Parker and his truck drivers license is still current in case this all goes wrong... A magic moment in the story of music in the 20th century.
So its been a pretty jam packed couple of weeks. Not sure if I have successfully relayed the scope and magnitude of it all...
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Snow Gods Truly Love Us
They truly do love us, Bubbas. This week end saw the start of Winter with snow falling all over the mountains.
For example, here is the car park at Mt Hotham this after noon...
BEHOLD THE MAJESTY THAT IS SNOW. QUAIL YE MORTALS AT THE MIGHT OF THE SNOW GODS. (dear Sno Godz my name is Bubba, plz to keep gives sno. kthx).
Let us hope it will continue as it has begun!!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Rock and Roll will save your Soul
I love music. It is an essential part of my day to hear it and enjoy it.
Well last night I was given the chance to play as part of a Friday night jam group at my buddy Steve's house. It was simply put, a blast. Steve is a passionate muso with a truly fantastic collection of guitars, amps, a drum kit and other little instruments. I've been looking forward to this evening all week, Steve and I had a jam a couple of weeks ago and I was really excited but how well we seemed to gel. Steve and I both like a similar kind of music and seem to have an ear for similar rhythms and tones. So getting together with a drummer and another guitarist was an interesting prospect.
Well everybody had a good time and thankfully there weren't any showboaters, we were all able to share and let the music play. Steve let me borrow an amazing semi-acoustic that had a beautiful deep sound and resonance. A real Dwayne Eddie style, I told Steve on several occasions that I may need marry this instrument!! :)
It worked out well as we didn't have a bass player I was able to keep the rhythm and bass notes strong (which suited the guitar down to the ground). I also tried a Telecaster special (that had an amazing custon humbucker in place of the bridge pick up) and an Epiphone ES-355 that had a fantastic jazz pitch to it.
What I know about guitars is that no two are the same and that there is a world of difference between a good guitar and a cheap one. But more importantly it was a great experience to be rocking out with a bunch of guys, have a good time and being able to keep up!!
I'm on a double high this week after meeting P.J. O'Rourke and having an awsome jam with a great bunch of guys. Tonite is the Hurricanes versus the Brumbies and another mates house!! Oh happy days!!!!!
Well last night I was given the chance to play as part of a Friday night jam group at my buddy Steve's house. It was simply put, a blast. Steve is a passionate muso with a truly fantastic collection of guitars, amps, a drum kit and other little instruments. I've been looking forward to this evening all week, Steve and I had a jam a couple of weeks ago and I was really excited but how well we seemed to gel. Steve and I both like a similar kind of music and seem to have an ear for similar rhythms and tones. So getting together with a drummer and another guitarist was an interesting prospect.
Well everybody had a good time and thankfully there weren't any showboaters, we were all able to share and let the music play. Steve let me borrow an amazing semi-acoustic that had a beautiful deep sound and resonance. A real Dwayne Eddie style, I told Steve on several occasions that I may need marry this instrument!! :)
It worked out well as we didn't have a bass player I was able to keep the rhythm and bass notes strong (which suited the guitar down to the ground). I also tried a Telecaster special (that had an amazing custon humbucker in place of the bridge pick up) and an Epiphone ES-355 that had a fantastic jazz pitch to it.
What I know about guitars is that no two are the same and that there is a world of difference between a good guitar and a cheap one. But more importantly it was a great experience to be rocking out with a bunch of guys, have a good time and being able to keep up!!
I'm on a double high this week after meeting P.J. O'Rourke and having an awsome jam with a great bunch of guys. Tonite is the Hurricanes versus the Brumbies and another mates house!! Oh happy days!!!!!
Meeting People
So on Wednesday I met P.J. O'Rourke. I shook his hand several times, had a brief conversation about free market economics and Francis Fukuyama. I also got him to sign a book, dedicating it to my yet to be born child (which tickled him pink!).
I return I gave him my cufflinks to say thank you, which was also well received.
With regards to hearing P.J. speak, it was wonderful to hear an author whose written works I know so well talk. It was pleasing to hear the actual cadence in his voice and see his body language. The content of the speech was a collection of themes he has been writing away at over the past few months (there were a number of recycled themes).
What did strike me was the confidence of the delivery of the ideas (and the similarity with a boss I used to have many years ago [a positive comparison]). The transcript of the address can be found on the National Press Club website HERE. What I was equally impressed and surprised by was the way he handled questions from the press. He was asked a question about gun control and school shootings which he answered in a very courteous and articulate manner (again have a read of the transcript).
So in conclusion, Mr O'Rourke was an entertaining guest of the press club, one of the better ones I've seen for a while and I personally had an amazing time meeting a literary hero.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Stop and Chop
I got lent a CD yesterday it's a mix up of two bands (iron &Wine and Calexico). Its a wonderful collaboration between the two. Iron and Wine I know from their own work, but Calexico is new to me. Why I'm mentioning this is to highlight, perhaps more to myself, the differences in people with whom you can work musically.
Since starting at the Radiostation I've felt like I was amongst 'my people'. By which I mean, people who know music, understand the difference between a triad and trio, why a clavicle and a harpsichord are similar and the tonal difference between a 4th and 2nd part of a harmony. To me these are things that are as natural and simple as the octet formula of an address table for a router.
So I'm thinking about what it means, is it a signpost? Should I stay on with the world of IT or is this a chance to branch out and try something new? something more natural? Most of the motivational life coaching information out there talk of finding one's passion. I confess I've never been terribly motivated or super stoked about anything to do with day to day job. I'm just good at it.
But to find someone who actually wants to discuss in an intelligent fashion the open tunings of Bo Diddley music. Well that is something else...
Tomorrow I'm back to Canberra to hear Mr P J O'Rourke speak at the National Press Club. This is a big moment in life. I first came across PJ many years ago at Uni, when the Internets was still in book format. I read him voraciously as well as Hunter S Thomson. The image I got of PJ was someone who could occasionally be funny, but who for the most part was angry. Angry at a whole range of ideas and people, coupled with a sense of worry at being found out and therefore no longer being paid to be a writer. I gather he has mellowed in old age, so it will be interesting to see what it is he will talk about. What are the thoughts of a die hard, anti Clintonian Republican on the devaluing of public discourse on the political process? Does he feel any responsibility for that through his writings? Can you be a serious commentator and make jokes at the same time? Alas, knowing as I do the caliber of Australian journalists, these questions will never get asked...
I'm taking a copy of my favourite PJ book (The Bachelor Home Compendium) in case the opportunity presents itself to have it signed. I brought that book with a gift voucher I won (2nd place, lost out to someone who ripped off a Roald Dahl story and exceeded the word limit) in a writing contest at uni. I'm sure there is something meaningful and symbolic there...
Since starting at the Radiostation I've felt like I was amongst 'my people'. By which I mean, people who know music, understand the difference between a triad and trio, why a clavicle and a harpsichord are similar and the tonal difference between a 4th and 2nd part of a harmony. To me these are things that are as natural and simple as the octet formula of an address table for a router.
So I'm thinking about what it means, is it a signpost? Should I stay on with the world of IT or is this a chance to branch out and try something new? something more natural? Most of the motivational life coaching information out there talk of finding one's passion. I confess I've never been terribly motivated or super stoked about anything to do with day to day job. I'm just good at it.
But to find someone who actually wants to discuss in an intelligent fashion the open tunings of Bo Diddley music. Well that is something else...
*********************
Tomorrow I'm back to Canberra to hear Mr P J O'Rourke speak at the National Press Club. This is a big moment in life. I first came across PJ many years ago at Uni, when the Internets was still in book format. I read him voraciously as well as Hunter S Thomson. The image I got of PJ was someone who could occasionally be funny, but who for the most part was angry. Angry at a whole range of ideas and people, coupled with a sense of worry at being found out and therefore no longer being paid to be a writer. I gather he has mellowed in old age, so it will be interesting to see what it is he will talk about. What are the thoughts of a die hard, anti Clintonian Republican on the devaluing of public discourse on the political process? Does he feel any responsibility for that through his writings? Can you be a serious commentator and make jokes at the same time? Alas, knowing as I do the caliber of Australian journalists, these questions will never get asked...
I'm taking a copy of my favourite PJ book (The Bachelor Home Compendium) in case the opportunity presents itself to have it signed. I brought that book with a gift voucher I won (2nd place, lost out to someone who ripped off a Roald Dahl story and exceeded the word limit) in a writing contest at uni. I'm sure there is something meaningful and symbolic there...
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
People who like people
This Easter weekend has easily been my best and favourite for a while. There have been ping pong championships, trips to Bright, yum cha, soccer and bike riding.
Currently I'm far too awake at the moment to be able to sleep. Perhaps it's too do with the waning full moon. I slept for a couple of hours then woke up clammy and sweaty. No matter what I tried to do I could not get comfortable enough to go back to sleep. Have come downstairs and tried watching Lawrence of Arabia, but even that hasn't helped.
Perhaps being online will do the trick.
Have begun to re-read 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' for a remedy against the appalling literature of the past few weeks. 'She' got even worse to the point I was skipping ahead page after page and scanning for narrative key words. It was something of a let down, I'm sorry to say. Which is a pity after such a promising start.
Currently I'm far too awake at the moment to be able to sleep. Perhaps it's too do with the waning full moon. I slept for a couple of hours then woke up clammy and sweaty. No matter what I tried to do I could not get comfortable enough to go back to sleep. Have come downstairs and tried watching Lawrence of Arabia, but even that hasn't helped.
Perhaps being online will do the trick.
Have begun to re-read 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' for a remedy against the appalling literature of the past few weeks. 'She' got even worse to the point I was skipping ahead page after page and scanning for narrative key words. It was something of a let down, I'm sorry to say. Which is a pity after such a promising start.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Reading Challange Update
I thought the 'Honey Thief' was an appallingly bad book. So I had my beloved read it to see if I was just making it up, she did not finish the first chapter.
Overall my experiment was a fail. Which I think was a reflection of a poorly design parameters. I may try again later in the year, but for now I'll draw a line under this first attempt at expanding my reading comfort zone.
Bah!!
At the moment 'She' is devolving into a turgid mess and I've noticed that there is a strong "funny how he never married" aspect to two of the main characters. I might just end up scanning the remainder of the book for the good parts. My penultimate warning sign arrived in the form of the baddy reciting poetry for 2 pages. To my mind its a mistake for authors to insert poetry as a dramatic device. Tolkien was an an epic fail with all the tiresome verse that populates his works and I'll be buggered if I'll indulge Mr Haggard either.
In other news we are in the final strecth of bub baking. My beloved is off work from tomorrow with an eye to getting the house ready for Ladybird.
Overall my experiment was a fail. Which I think was a reflection of a poorly design parameters. I may try again later in the year, but for now I'll draw a line under this first attempt at expanding my reading comfort zone.
Bah!!
At the moment 'She' is devolving into a turgid mess and I've noticed that there is a strong "funny how he never married" aspect to two of the main characters. I might just end up scanning the remainder of the book for the good parts. My penultimate warning sign arrived in the form of the baddy reciting poetry for 2 pages. To my mind its a mistake for authors to insert poetry as a dramatic device. Tolkien was an an epic fail with all the tiresome verse that populates his works and I'll be buggered if I'll indulge Mr Haggard either.
+++++++++++++++++
In other news we are in the final strecth of bub baking. My beloved is off work from tomorrow with an eye to getting the house ready for Ladybird.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Aeneid on Facebook
I read the Aeneid in 7th form during my Economics classes (I got the school prize for Classic's that year). I haven't read it since then, but I do fondly remember ignoring the teacher (who was a lovely person) to concentrate on Aeneas and his shenanigans. It reminded me a bit of Battlestar Galactica in some respect. But I loved the continuity of the Trojan war from the Trojan perspective.
This is very funny, its the Aeneid as a Facebook profile (LINK). Well perhaps its funny if you're a super nerd who read Virgil when he should have been reading Milton Keynes.
Perhaps there are other books to be treated in the same manner? Moby Dick? Wuthering Heights?
This is very funny, its the Aeneid as a Facebook profile (LINK). Well perhaps its funny if you're a super nerd who read Virgil when he should have been reading Milton Keynes.
Perhaps there are other books to be treated in the same manner? Moby Dick? Wuthering Heights?
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